Beyond monotheism? Some remarks and questions on conceptualising ‘monotheism’ in Biblical Studies

Abstract:

In the first part of this article I outline serious objections against the concept of monotheism.
I will ask whether the ambiguity and the problem discredit the concept of monotheism as
inappropriate for Biblical Studies, or whether it calls for differentiation. In the argument
following thereupon, the concept is found to be more useful to describe certain stages of
the conceptual and linguistic development of Israelite religion. The term and concept of
monotheism in Biblical Studies is necessary, but not sufficient, if we want to reconstruct
the religious history of Israel, Judah, Yehûd and Early Judaism or Judaisms. In this article
I propose categories such as implicit monotheism, intolerant monolatry, implicit exclusion,
explicit uniqueness, monotheism as implication et cetera, which are especially useful if we
want an accurate description of the statements. This makes the category of monotheism useful
as heuristic and relational category.